Portable folding toilet seat and cover for backpacking and camping

ABSTRACT

An ultra-light weight portable toilet seat and supporting legs for backpacking, camping and travel use, comprised of a folding seat and multiple adjustable legs for height variation. A cover attaches to the seat and leg assembly to form a camp stool. The seat is comprised of a top surface and a bottom surface, a back section and a front section, and an open center. The multiple legs attach into the bottom section and angle downward to meet the ground. The bottom section of the seat is formed to receive the adjustable legs which when fully retracted will be held into place by the designed form. The back section and the front section are held together by a hinge device to allow the seat to close, concealing the legs in a clamshell fashion. The portable toilet assembly can be used over a pre-dug hole or with the waste container.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] An ultra-light weight portable toilet seat and supporting legs for backpacking, camping and travel use, comprised of a folding seat and multiple adjustable legs for height variation. A cover attaches to the seat and leg assembly to form a camp stool. The seat is comprised of a top surface and a bottom surface, a back section and a front section, and an open center. The multiple legs attach into the bottom section and angle downward to meet the ground. The bottom section of the seat is formed to receive the adjustable legs which when fully retracted will be held into place by the designed form. The back section and the front section are held together by a hinge device to allow the seat to close, concealing the legs in a clamshell fashion. Raised extensions are molded to the bottom surface to allow the attachment of a waste container to receive human waste. The portable toilet assembly can be used over a pre-dug hole or with the waste container. The portable toilet seat and legs is a stand-alone toilet assembly and is adjustable for use by adults of varying size and children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to an improved portable toilet seat assembly. More particularly, the invention is an ultra-light weight portable toilet seat and leg assembly that is free standing for use in the out-of-doors for backpacking, camping and travel.

[0003] A backpacking and camping experience can be an enjoyable experience, but all too often a person's need to eliminate is hindered for lack of normal bathroom facilities. The person will override the urge to eliminate and can cause sever cramping and nausea. Children are especially prone to neglect nature's call when not in the proper environment.

[0004] The improved portable toilet seat and leg assembly will be utilized by adults of various sizes and small children. A toilet seat that looks and feels like the standard seat in their bathroom at home will give a backpacker and their children more comfort. They will be able to more easily eliminate and thus be able to better enjoy their backpacking experience.

[0005] In addition the seat cover creates a camping stool to be used around the camp for eating, cooking or relaxing around the campfire. Because of the adjustable legs, the converted camp stool can be used by children and adults alike. Most of the prior art discusses how seats are used with standard toilets and most are concerned with sanitation situations.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,852 to Voigt et al., discloses a portable toilet seat that is mounted on a standard toilet seat. This structure also is free standing for use by children who are being toilet trained.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,105 to Watson discloses a portable toilet seat and stand for wilderness campers which requires considerable assembly for use.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,063 to Edwards et al., discloses a portable toilet seat for use in public restrooms.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,880 to Bass discloses a portable and foldable toilet seat to fit over a permanent toilet seat to prevent slippage and to include a stack of disposable liners within the shell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention consists of a portable folding toilet seat and legs that when connected serves as a stand-alone toilet. The portable folding toilet seat conceals the legs in a clamshell fashion for easy pack-ability and storage. The ultra-light weight feature of the invention allows people to pack this toilet assembly deep into the wilderness where no bathroom facilities exist.

[0011] The seat assembly can be easily made from molded plastic and the molding process will be utilized to mold only one side of the seat assembly. The other half will be a copy of the first and will fit together by the hinge section. The legs fit easily into the risers at the bottom section of the seat. The legs are adjustable to accommodate adults of varying sizes and small children. The legs when fully retracted will snap into place under the portable folding toilet seat. The concealed legs will allow for easy packing and storage. It will also take up less space in a backpack or daypack. This assembly can be packed as the clamshell or it can be placed into a storage bag.

[0012] When the cover is fastened to the top of the portable folding toilet seat, it becomes a camping stool. The cover has an opening and simply slips over the seat, a plurality of drawstrings tighten the cover to the seat. The cover can be easily stored in the clamshell or with the seat assembly in a storage bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the portable folding toilet seat with adjustable legs extending downward from the bottom section.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a view of the bottom section of the seat with the retracted legs nested into place and partially folded.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a view of the clamshell fashion of the closed seat.

[0016]FIG. 4 shows a cover fitted over the portable folding toilet seat for use as a camping stool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a portable folding toilet seat 10 consisting of a back section 10 a and a front section 10 b and an open center 10 c. Connected to the bottom surface are the multiple adjusting legs 11 a and 11 b. When the upper portion 11 a and the lower portion 11 b of the adjustable legs are fully extended and placed into position on the bottom surface, it becomes a free standing portable toilet seat. The adjustable height variations of the legs allows adults of varying sizes and children to use the portable toilet seat.

[0018] The portable folding toilet seat 10, oval in shape, uses a male 13 a and female 13 b component to make hinges as shown in FIG. 2. The portable toilet seat 10 folds at the hinges. The upper portion 11 a and the lower portion 11 b of the adjustable legs retract to nest in the bottom surface of the seat 10. FIG. 3 shows the portable folding toilet seat folded in a “clamshell” fashion. This view shows the male 13 a and the female 13 b components of the hinges. FIG. 3 also shows the male 14 a and female 14 b components of the locking device to hold the seat 10 rigid when opened. The legs are nested inside the “clamshell” as shown in FIG. 3 for easy storage and transportation either by itself or in a storage bag.

[0019]FIG. 4 shows a cover 17, fitted over the portable folding toilet seat 10, for use as a camping stool. 

I claim:
 1. A portable folding toilet seat comprising: a) A molded form, oval in shape which looks like a conventional toilet seat, having a top surface, a bottom surface, a back section, a front section and an open center; b) Multiple legs attach into the bottom section and angle downward to meet the ground creating a free standing portable toilet; and c) The multiple legs when fully retracted fit into place on the bottom surface of the molded form; d) A cover, using a plurality of drawstrings, fits tightly over the portable folding toilet seat creates a camping stool.
 2. The portable folding toilet seat of claim 1, folds at hinges concealing the legs in a clamshell fashion.
 3. The portable folding toilet seat of claim 1, wherein the legs are adjustable for height variations.
 4. The portable folding toilet seat of claim 1, wherein extensions are formed to attach a waste container to receive human waste for easy disposing thereof.
 5. The portable folding toilet seat of claim 1, wherein a female groove receives a male extension to fit together to keep the seat rigid when unfolded for use as a portable toilet seat or a camping stool. 